Cutoff stop motion for textile machinery



May 29, 1951 BATEY 2,555,219

I CUT OFF STOP MOTION FOR TEXTILE MACHINERY Filed April 1. 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l III Ilhl May 29, 1951 'r. E. BATEY 7 2,555,219

CUT ow STOP MOTION FOR TEXTILE MACHINERY Filed April 1. 1948 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 92 MN u 64 /22 I44 we W 7 //2 W0 12 95- lJO Patented May 29, 1951 CUTOFF STOP MOTION FOR TEXTILE MACHINERY Thomas E. Batey, Weston, Mass.

Application April 1, 1948, Serial No. 18,308

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a cut-off stop motion for textile machines of the type in which a plurality of strands of yarn are drawn from delivery bobbins-and brought into close proximity to one another, and thereafter plied, twisted or otherwise combined.

It is in general an object of the invention to provide an improved cut-off stop motion for interrupting the plying or twisting operation in the event that one or more strands break or run out while the remaining strands are available to continue the twisting process and thus form an imperfect product. Another object is to provide a quick acting cut-off stop motion which is relatively simple in construction, and which is readily combined with conventional textile machines of the type noted, without change in design or undue interference with the normal operation of such machines.

In twister frames specifically, it frequently happens that a broken or run-out strand not only results in the formation of an imperfect product on its own spindle but may also cause other troubles. Thus, the unsecured end of a broken strand may run across and become entangled with the strands of adjacent spindles. In other instances an end of a broken strand may become attached to the feed rolls of the twister and wind itself about these rolls, requiring additional time and labor to remove the turns before tying in.

Difficulties such as these are largely avoided in the device of the present invention by means of a shearing and holding mechanism arranged to operate so that when a strand breaks or runs out, contiguous strands of yarn are instantly out off at a point closely adjacent to the broken or run-out strand end, and the remaining ends of both the broken strand and the cut-off strands are held securely until the operator is able to tie in the broken end or renew a delivery bobbin. An important feature of the invention therefore is the combination with a twister frame of shearin and holding means located between the delivery bobbins and the feed rolls at separated points along the twister frame in a suitable manner to furnish a control for each of the spindles independently of one another.

Another important feature of the invention is re combination with the shearing mechanism described of actuating means whose movements controlled by change in tension of any one of the strands moving from the delivery bobbins such as may result from the yarn breaking or running out. The actuating means preferably consists of a series of movable drop wires arranged to be supported in a desired position by the strands at all times while the strands are held under tension.

Another important feature is the provision of a tension member including a pair of rolls disposed one above another and located directly below the delivery bobbins of the twister machine, in a position so chosen as to receive strands from the bobbins in spaced-apart relation and to impart a constant tension in each of the strands as they pass to the feed rolls. By means of this arrangement the drop wires supported by these strands will, in response to a very slight change in tension from a thread breaking or running out, instantly fall back and actuate the shearing mechanism. Associated with the tension member is a novel guide arrangement consisting of a pair of spaced-apart guide bars located one below another in offset relation. The effect of the offset arrangement is to cause strands to pass downwardly along an inclined path and while in such a position the strands more conveniently support the upper ends of the drop wires which are constructed to terminate at points between the two guide bars. The inclined path of movement of the strands resulting from the offset arrangement of the guide bars cooperates with the tension member to effectively hold the ends of the drop wires in a forward position, from which the wires may in-- stantly fall back in the event of a drop in tension in any one of the strands at any point along its path of movement.

Still another feature of the invention is a unique spring-held latch and release means for operating the shears in response to movement of the drop wires. The latch and release mechanism is conveniently housed within a casing member which furnishes a support for the shearing. mechanism and the other apparatus already referred to, and the casing includes pedestal means for maintaining the entire cut-off stop motion in a conveniently raised position between the delivery bobbins and the feed rolls as above described. The casing supports at its front side a handle by means of which the operator of the twister frame may conveniently retract the latch, thus placing the shearing machinery in position to out.

These and other objects and novel features of the invention will be better understood and appreciated from the following rescription of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a view in end elevation and partial cross section fragmentarily indicating a twister machine of the usual type with which is combined the cut-off stop motion device of the invention in one desired relative position;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the cut-off stop motion of the invention with strands of yarn indicated as passing through the several guide members;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view showing the lower casing portion of the device in which is contained a latch assembly for actuating the shearing and holding mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2; 1

Fig. 5 is a plan cross-sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 4 and further showing the device as it actually operates when a strand breaks;

Fig. 7 is a detail plan cross section taken on the line 'I! of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is another detail plan view of the latch and release members; and

Fig. 9 is a detail elevational view showing the holding element of the shear mechanism engaging several strands of yarn.

The principal parts of the stop motion of the invention include a raised casing, shearing means mounted in the casing and projecting through one'side thereof, and a frame extending above the casing to support a tension member, and strand guides which are arranged to cooperate with drop wires and control movement of the shearing means. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the various parts referred to have been shown in association with elements of a twister frame and it is intended that this shall be illustrative of application of the stop motion to various other well known textile machines such as doubler winding machines and others where a plurality of strands of roving, yarn, thread, and the like are brought together and wound upon receiving bobbins. The several component parts of the stop motion of the invention are preferably constructed and arranged as a single integrated unit which can be installed or removed from the twister frame at will, and it should beunderstood that the single unit hereinafter described in connection with the drawings is representative of a multiplicity of the units installed in the twister frame in position to take care of each individual receiving bobbin in the frame.

Elements of a conventional twister frame have been illustrated fragmentarily in Fig. 1 in which numeral l denotes a sampson at one side of which is fixed a bracket [2 for carrying spindle l4 driven by belt l6 from pulley l8. A receiving bobbin 20 ismounted on the spindle about which is located a ring traveller 22 by means of which the composite strand 24 is twisted and wound upon the bobbin. At the upper side of the sampson is a plate 26 supporting a roll stand 28 bearing feed rolls 3!], 32, and 34, at least one of which is a driving roll. A platform 36 extends longitudinallyof the frame in back of the rolls and supports an upright 38 which carries a bank of delivery bobbins 40 from which individual strands of yarn 42 are drawn off by the feed rolls.

In accordance with the invention, my improved stop motion is located on the platform 36 immediately below the delivery bobbins in a position to engage the strands 42 as they move toward the feed rolls. A base or pedestal 44 i screwed to the platform and supports a post 46 on which is mounted the casing 48. Extending upwardly from opposite sides of the casing are the arms 50 and 52 carrying adjustable extensions 54 and 56 whose extremities are slotted to loosely receive the ends of two solid metal rolls 58 and 66 disposed one upon another as shown. In the elevated position described, the rolls are enabled to receive therebetween the several strands 42 in spaced relation to one another. The weight of the upper roll 66 exerts a positive retarding force on each thread separately with the effect that as the feed rolls 36 and 32 draw the strands downwardly, a constant tension is produced and continuously maintained on each individual strand as long as that strand remains unbroken or has not run out.

Supported between the extensions 54 and 56 at points directly below the tension rolls described, is a guide bar 62 which carries a series of porcelain guides 64, through which are led .the strands 42 as they leave the tension member. Below the guide bar 62 in spaced-apart offset relation is a second guide bar 66 supported between projecting ends 68 and 10 formed on the arms 56 and 52 respectively. A second series of porcelain guides 12 are located in the guide bar 66 in front of and below the guides 64. It will be noted that as the strands 42 pass from the guides 64 to the offset guides 12, they are caused to move downwardly and forwardly along an inclined path, as may be clearly seen in Figs. 4 and 6.

Lightly supported by the inclined strand portions running between the two guide bars described are a plurality of movable elements or drop wires14, carrying at their upper extremities porcelain guides 16, in back of which the strands are passed. The drop wires 14 are mounted for limited rotation about a shaft 78 transversely secured along the front of the casing 48, and each of the wires extends upwardly and rearwardly from the shaft at an angle less than 90", so that it normally seeks by force of gravity to fall back through a limited arc of rotation. The length of the drop wires is chosen with reference to the two guide bars so that when the upper extremity of any one of the drop wires is moved forwardly in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 6, the porcelain guide 16 of that drop wire lies approximately midway between the two bars and occurs in a position such that a strand 42 just supports the wire at the desired angle.

Located below the guide bar 66 at the front of the casing 48 is an eye 86, arranged to bring together in close proximity to one another each of the strands 42 (Fig. 2). Directly below the eye 86 is a shear mechanism supported on a plate 86 secured at the side of the casing 48. and presenting a strand aperture 8| (Fig. 7) in register with the opening in the eye 80 through which contiguous strands pass as shown in Fig. 2. A second eye 82 immediately below the strand aperture 8| insures retention of the contiguous strands within the shear aperture during normal operation of the twisting frame.

The shear mechanism is supported on plate 86 and includes a series of relatively thin strand cutting and holding elements, arranged one upon another about a bolt St, the lower end of which is threaded into the plate 86 and the upper end of which is smooth to provide an annular bearing surface.

The lowermost element in the series referred to consists in a stationary shear element 84,

104a of element I04.

5 formed witha cutting edge 84c and an extension 04a, which is fastened to plate 86 by bolt 84b, as noted in Figs. '2 and 7.

Next in the series occurs a movable shear element 88 which is arranged to pivot about the bolt 90 and whichpresents an extension 08a and a cutting edge 88c normally lying in horizontally spaced relation with respect to the cutting edge 840 as may be observed in Fig. 2.

Superimposed on element 88 about the bolt 90 is a very thin stationary strand holding element I04, which is disposed directly above shear element 84 in vertically spaced relation and which presents a shape generally corresponding to the shape of the shear element 84. The bolt 841) also passes through an extension of element I04, thus securing it in fixed relation to element 34.

Mounted on stationary strand holding element I04 about bolt 90 is a movable strand holding element I06, presenting an extension I06a (Fig. 2), and a guide edge I001) which is arranged in horizontally spaced relation to an adjacent edge The extension I060: is firmly secured to extension 36a by a bolt 06 and nut 94, as shown in Fig. 2.

Movable strand holding element I 06 in turn supports another stationary strand holding element I08 on bolt 90, as shown in Fig. 9, and this stationary element I08 is also of the same general shape as element 604, having an extension IOBa through which passes bolt 84b. I08 further includes a guide edge I081) which occurs in vertically spaced relation to element I011. The vertical spacing at this point is preferably chosen to be slightly less than the thickness of movable strand holding element I06, and the edge I081) may be of resilient character and slightl upturned as shown. Such an arrangement allows the element I06 to be rotated about the bolt 50 and to move into the space between elements I04 and I00, forcing element I08 slightly upwardly as viewed in Fig. 9.

Also received about the bolt 90 and overlying the strand holding element I is a strand guide plate I09 which has an extension I090 secured in fixed relation by bo1t'84b, and which further presents a recessed edge I09a forming-a strand guiding aperture which lies in register with the openings resulting from the spaced relation of the movable strand cutting and holding elements with respect to the stationary strand holding and cutting elements as above described. Numeral I09b (Fig. 6) denotes a resilient cap which serves in response to the holding action of bolt'90 to maintain all of the various elements lying therebelow in compacted relation.

The movable shear element 88 and strand holding element I06 are actuated through a lever 95 which as shown in Fig. extends through the casing 46 and has its inner extremity pinned to a link I08 pivoted on a stud H0 which is in turn pinned at its other end to a rod II2. Bearing members H4 and H5 slidably support the rod I I2 in a raised position and a spring I I8 anchored in bearing H4 and attached to a vertical pin I transversely located through the rod, resiliently urges the rod inwardly of the casing.

The rod II2 projects from the front of casing 46 and carries at its outer extremity a handle I00. A resilient sleeve I02 of rubber or other rubber-like material is supported on the outer side of casing 40 and slidably receives the projecting end of rod II 2. The sleeve functions as a stop for limiting movement of the rod I I2 inwardly of the casing and further acts as a cushioning means for absorbing the force of the handle when the rod is suddenly disengaged by a spring-held latch mechanism hereinafter described. The handle I00 is secured to a threaded end of rod H2 and includes a collar portion I00a, which can be adjustably positioned on the threaded end by the number of turns given to the handle, and then secured in a fixed position by means of the set screw I001). With the collar I00a in contact with sleeve I02, as shown in Fig. 6, and with the set screw I00b loosened, the handle ma be threaded on to the rod II2 to a greater or lesser extent, thus varying the degree of tension of the spring H8 Within the casing. Such a feature is desirable in the installation of the stop motion of the invention on different twister frames where some variation in tension may be desirable.

The lower end of pin I20 is slidably engaged in an elongated slot I22 of a catch I24 pivotally mounted in the base of the casing as shown in Fig. 8. The catch I24 is provided with a projection I26. Mounted in the path of rotation of the catch I24 for locking engagement with the projection I26 is a trigger I28 formed with a notched head and pivotally supported in a plate I34. A spring I 32 normally urges the trigger into the position shown in Fig. 8. Upon retracting rod II2 the catch rotates clockwise as viewed in Fig. 8, and the angular face of the projection snap-s into engagement with the notched head of the trigger, thus holding rod I I2 in a fixed position.

The trigger I20 is formed with an elongated end I38 on which is formed an upright ear I40. Extending downwardly into the path of limited movement of the ear I40 when the trigger is pulled back, is a wire element I42 which is fixed to a pivoted shaft I44 located transversely through the sides of the casing above the rod I I2, as suggested in Fig. 3.

Also fixed in shaft I44 is a U-shaped frame member I46 extending out to one side of the shaft and lightly supported in a raised position by means of a spring I48 (Figs. 4 and 6) anchored in the casing. The frame member I46'in the position described lies directly below and is adapted to be contacted by any one of a number of bent extremities I50 of the drop wires I4 as has been indicated in Fig. 6. The weight of one of the extremities I50 exceeds the holding strength of the wire spring I48 so that upon any one of the extremities falling back, it will cause the frame I46 to be depressed and the shaft His will rotate counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 6, releasing the latch.

In use, the stop motion unit is secured in place above the delivery bobbins in the manner above described, and the strands of yarn 42 spaced apart from one another are passed between the rolls 58 and 60 with the upper roll being raised in the sloted uprights to facilitate this operation. From here the several strands are run through their respective porcelain guides in the top guide bar 62, then led in back of the porcelain receivers I6 and into the respective porcelain guides in the second guide bar 66. Each strand is separately threaded through the eye 80, then threaded through the eye 52, and finally passed to the feed rolls and secured to the receiving bobbins.

When all of the strands for a given unit have been secured, the several drop wires are supported in a forward position and at this point the operator sets the shearing and holding mechanism in a latched operative position b grasping the handle I00 and pulling it out into the position illustrated in Fig. 7. This movement retracts the tracted.

rod II2 against the action of the spring I I0, and through the pin I20 the release plate I28 is rotat- 'ed clockwise as viewed in Fig. 8 about its pivot until the stop I20 slides by the notched end I30 of the trigger I28, becoming interlocked there-- with. The rod H2 as it is retracted pivots the link I98 about its pivot and this action draws the lever 95 partway into the casing carrying with it the movable shearing element 88 and the movable holding element I06. When this has been done, the shearing aperture BI is opened and the contiguous strands from the eye 80 are brought into register with the aperture 8| and the stop motion is ready to operate at any time that a drop in tension develops in any one of the threads passing between the tension rolls and the feed rolls.

Assuming for purposes of illustration that a break occurs in a strand at approximately the point suggested in Fig. 6, the respective drop wire for the broken strand of yarn instantly falls back into the position indicated, which movement rotates the lower bent extremity of that drop wire into contact with the frame I46, depressing this member against the supporting action of spring I48 and rotating the shaft I44 a slight amount. Movement of the shaft brings the bent wire into contact with the stop I40, thus releasing the trigger I28 against the spring I32 and reversing the movement above described of rod IIZ, its linkage including member 95, and the connected shearing mechanism. At this point the sleeve I02 cushions the shock of handle I as it is re- The shearing mechanism is snapped into a closed position and cuts all of the strands of yarn moving through the aperture M and the cut ends are carried by the movable holding blade I06-into the opening between element I04 and element I08 and becomes jammed therebetween with the element I 06 as shown in Fig. 9. As there is no further demand on the delivery bobbins, further delivery of yarn ceases while the receiving bobbins continue to turn without interruption. The same effect will be produced obviously when a strand runs out from its respective delivery bobbin. In either case there is no loose end left to become entangled at any point.

It will be evident from the foregoing discussion that the cut-off stop motion of the invention affords a practical and efficient means of preventing imperfect yarn on a receiving bobbin as well as preventing a broken strand of yarn from running into an adjacent spindle or lap winding on the feed rolls. The need for doffing the delivery bobbins or the creel before they are empty is eliminated. As each spindle has its individual stop motion, each spindle is independent of all the others, which is advantageous in various respects. It should also be observed that unlike devices heretofore proposed, the stop motion of the invention does not lock the spindle it controls, with the possibility of causing the belt or band to burn. Instead the spindle is allowed to turn freely.

I claim:

1. A cutoff stop motion for a twister frame, including a casing, a tension member supported above the casing for receiving yarn therein, a plurality of yarn guides interposed between the tension member and the casing, a, stationary shear element fixed at an outer side of the casing, a movable shear element pivotally secured over the stationary shear element, a lever secured to the movable shear element and extending through the casing, a pivoted link attached to the inner I the plate, a shaft mounted in the casing above the trigger element, a release member fixed to the shaft and. extending into close proximity to the trigger element, a frame fixed to the shaft, a spring anchored in the casing and supporting the frame in a slightly raised position, a series of drop wires pivotally secured in the casing and having their ends extending inwardly above the frame, said drop wires adapted when unsupported by a strand passing through the guides to move into contact with the frame and actuate the trigger release member.

2. In a cutoff stop motion for a twister machine, a casing, yarn control means mounted on the casing, said casing supporting at one side thereof a shearing mechanism including a fixed shear element and a movable shear element, a lever connected to the movable shear element and extending through the casing, a pivoted link attached to the lever at one end, a spring held rod pinned to the pivoted link at its opposite end, a latch element for maintaining the rod in a retracted position, a shaft extending transversely through the casing, a release member for tripping the latch element mounted on the shaft, a frame carried by the shaft, a plurality of drop wires having their extremities arranged above the frame in a position to actuate the release element when pivoted.

3. The combination with a twister machine of a cutoff stop motion located between the elivery bobbins and the feed rolls of the twister, the stop motion including a tension member for engaging strands as they leave the delivery bobbins, means for guiding the strands into close proximity to one another, a series of drop wires supported in forward position by the threads while under tension, a shear mechanism located below the guide means and presenting a shearing aperture through which contiguous threads are passed, spring-held latch means for maintaining the shearing mechanism in an open position, a pivoted frame arranged in the path of the drop wires, said frame carrying a release member for disengaging the latch means.

4. In a twister machine of the character described, a tension device for engaging strands leaving the delivery bobbins of the machine, drop wires supported on the strands in an upright manner, a mechanism for shearing and holding the strands at a point where they are joined together, a latch for actuating the shearing member, the latch including a lever, a spring-held rod, a linkage for retracting the rod, a release mechanism for disengaging the latch, said release mechanism including a pivoted frame lying in the path of movement of strand contacting elements.

5. The combination With a twister machine of a cutoff stop motion adapted to be located between the delivery bobbins and feed rolls of a twister machine, the stop motion including a base, a casing supported in a raised position above the base, upright members fixed at either side of the casing, a pair of rolls disposed one upon another and mounted transversely between the upright members in a position to receive strands from the delivery bobbins of the twister, an eye for bringing strands from the rolls into close proximity to one another, drop wires supported on the strands at points between the rolls and the eye, a shearing and holding mechanism fixed to the casing and presenting a strand aperture in register with the eye, and means for operating the shearing mechanism in response to movement of any one of the drop wires out of a strand supported position.

6. In a cutoff stop motion for a twister machine, the combination of a pair of rolls loosely mounted one above another for engaging strands drawn off from the delivery bobbins of the twister, a series of movable strand contacting elements supported by the strands at points immediately below the rolls, a shearing and holding mechanism presentin a strand aperture through which continguous strands are passed, and a spring-held latch mechanism for actuating the shearing and holding mechanism in response to a change in position of any one of the strand contacting elements such that the element is no longer supported by its respective strand.

7. A cutofi stop motion for a textile machine of the type in which a plurality of strands are drawn from delivery bobbins by means of feed rolls, said stop motion including a pair of rolls constructed and arranged to engage each of the strands at a point between the delivery bobbins and feed rolls, thereby to induce a normally constant tension in the strands, a series of movable strand contacting elements supported by their respective strands when the latter are held under tension, and a shearing and holding mechanism mounted in the path of movement of the strands at the point where the strands are in close proximity to one another, the shearing and holding mechanism being operatively connected to the movable strand contacting elements.

8. In a cutoff stop motion for a twister machine having a plurality of delivery bobbins, an eye for drawing strands from the delivery bobbins into contiguous relation, a tension member mounted between the delivery bobbins and the eye, strand guiding means for controllin the path of movement of the strands in passing from the tension members to the eye, movable strand contacting elements supported by the strands in the position assumed by the strands as they pass through the guiding means, and a shearing and holding mechanism for cutting the strands at a point below the strand eye in response to change in position of any one of the movable elements such that the element is no longer supported by its respective strand.

9. In a cutoff stop motion for a textile machine of the class described, a shearing and holding mechanism, spring-held means for actuating the shearing and holding mechanism, means responsive to change in tension of a strand moving through the stop motion for releasing the springheld actuating means, said shearing and holding mechanism including a series of fixed plate elements located about a shaft member in spaced relation to one another, and a plurality of movable plate elements located about said shaft and constructed and arranged to move into sliding engagement with the fixed elements.

10. In a cutoiT stop motion for textile machines of the class described, a shearing and holding mechanism, means for actuating the shearing and holding mechanism in response to change in tension of a strand passing through the cutofi motion, said shearing and holding mechanism including a series of fixed plate elements supported about a common axis and located in spaced relation to one another, and a plurality of movable plate elements lying at points intermediate the fixed plate elements and constructed and arranged to move into sliding engagement with the fixed elements.

11. A device of the character described in claim 10 in which the uppermost movable plate element is resiliently engaged with the uppermost stationary plate element in one position of the movable plate element.

THOMAS E. BATEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,329,999 Miller Sept. 21, 1943 2,456,406 Gordon et a1. Dec. 14, 1948 

